Best Smelling Shampoos (The Only List That Matter)

Best Smelling Shampoo: Our Top Picks

Hair is porous, and because of this, it loves to suck up moisture, oils, and scents. Nothing beats a waft of fragrance when a beautifully scented hairdo walks past, and for those of us with beaus, it’s pretty imperative that our beloved smell something other than our natural odor when they bury their face in our locks. Of course, smelling lovely is nice, with or without an audience; scents can have therapeutic qualities, and make us feel confident, revitalized, or even sleepy! That’s why a great smelling shampoo is an important part of anybody’s routine. Whether you like messy hair or red carpet ready hair, this is the only list you ever need when it comes to choosing the best smelling shampoo!

Aveda’s Rosemary and Mint

Aveda prides itself in luxury products sourced from fragrant, organic ingredients. If you’re looking for a shampoo that gently detoxifies the scalp and smells fantastic, then look no further than Aveda’s Rosemary and Mint daily shampoo. We love how this shampoo gently strips oil and product build up, whilst leaving our hair soft and hydrated. If you like to feel your shampoo at work, the mint creates a tingling sensation on the scalp, stimulating the skin cells to promote healthier, longer hair. We can’t help but feel relaxed, yet energized when we wash with this shampoo; the perfect combination for those doing a wash and go. It’s easier to hustle when you smell fresh, and feel at ease!

SheaMoisture’s African Water Mint & Ginger

We could wax lyrical about SheaMoisture’s down-to-earth, natural, and cruelty-free delicious shampoos. SheaMoisture shampoos are sulfate, paraben, and silicone free – making them perfect for those wanting to keep their hair natural and healthy. All those organic herbal and plant-based ingredients make not only for moisturizing, revitalizing shampoo, but also fantastic fragrances. We personally can’t sniff the African Water Mint & Ginger Detox shampoo enough! The combination of ginger and mint gives this shampoo an extra tingly sensation! Definitely one for those who suffer from an itchy scalp, and build up at the roots.

Herbal Essences’ White Grapefruit and Mosa Mint

Herbal Essences’ shampoos (remeber them? Yes…yes…YES! YASSS!!) have been marketed on their fragrance alone – and is it any wonder why? They smell good enough to eat. If you want a strong obvious scent with notes of herbs and citrus, then Herbal Essence’s Biorenew White Grapefruit and Mosa Mint shampoo is the one for you. This shampoo uses argan oil as active ingredient, promoting hair strength and volume. As for the fragrance, we love the way the bitterness of the grapefruit cuts through the otherwise sweet, fruity scent.

Paul Mitchell’s Tea Tree with Lemon and Sage

For those who are looking for a mature scent, and one which more so hints at hygiene rather than sweetness, then a tea tree scented shampoo will tick all your boxes. Paul Mitchell’s tea tree shampoo line comes in lemon and sage; a divine combo appropriate for cleanly adults regardless of gender. Why not share this pragmatically scented shampoo with your significant other? The lemon, sage, and tea tree combine to exude a powerful scent that leaves your scalp flake-free, and your hair smelling clean enough to eat off of.

LUSH’s Honey, and Coconut

Have you ever stepped into a real life LUSH store? You could probably smell it from a mile away. LUSH makes its cosmetic products with raw, humanely sourced, natural ingredients – and the results are an olfactory delight. It’s probably no wonder that LUSH has ended up on our list of best smelling shampoo. If you’re looking for a scent that is lasting, and adorably sweet, then check out LUSH’s Fair Trade Honey shampoo. If you’re a curly reader, LUSH’s Curly Wurly conditioning shampoo in coconut is a curl defining, nose appealing delight!

Tree to Tub’s Soapberry Lavender

For the night showerers amongst us, a relaxing, sleep-inducing scent is a must-have in our shampoo. Lavender has been proven to have aromatherapeutic properties which help to calm nerves, and help us get some shut eye. That’s why Tree to Tub’s Soapberry for Hair in relaxing lavender is one of the best smelling shampoos for those who love to bathe before bed. Tree to Tub’s soapberry based shampoo is gentle on the hair and skin, as its active emulsifier is from raw, whole soapberries – a non-stripping soap alternative. A gentle shampoo like this one will not dry your hair out, making sure that when your locks eventually hit the pillow, they won’t frizz up by morning. After enjoying the relaxing lavender scent as you wash and ready yourself for sleep, you’ll be hard pressed to keep your eyes open once you hit the sack.

Best Smelling Shampoos | DIY

Finally, for those of you who already have a gentle, scent-less shampoo in your bathroom, but want a best smelling shampoo, then we have a DIY fix for you. Source a fragrance you like, and buy it in an essential oil format. Make sure that your chosen essential oil is safe for your hair, or even better, choose an essential oil that gives your shampoo added benefits (such as tea tree, or ginger). Then, simply add a couple drops into your existing (fragrance-free) shampoo. If you’re using a low-poo alternative such as baking soda, then an essential oil is a must if you’re wanting locks that smell like anything other than sebum.

Check out this video for further how-to guidance, and for a list of essential oils that not only smell great, but actively benefit your hair’s health!

Final Thoughts About These Best Smelling Shampoos

Those are our contenders for the best smelling shampoo! We must admit, half the fun of choosing a new shampoo is deciding on a fragrance that makes us feel fresh and desirable. A great smelling shampoo can make any extra perfumes completely unnecessary; and we love the way that scents gently cling to hair in a less obtrusive way than when it’s applied to skin. If you’re wanting to be that person that others sniff after whenever you walk past, make sure to try one of these best smelling shampoos. Sometimes, smell is everything!